PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court late Wednesday night granted protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former state minister Zartaj Gul.
Gul faces alleged corruption charges and was booked in August last year.
Chief Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, taking up Gul’s petition for protective bail, barred the police from arresting her. The court instructed the PTI leader to submit surety bonds on Thursday.
As per details, Chief Justice PHC Muhammad Ibrahim heard the plea seeking protective bail and barred police from arresting the former minister Zartaj Gul.
Earlier, Zartaj Gul, apprehensive about arrest, declined to leave the court premises.
In an emotional moment, she apologised for the violent riots on May 9, which ensued after the arrest of the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
Speaking to media after filing her bail plea, the PTI leader expressed uncertainty about the upcoming elections, stating, “I can’t say whether I am contesting the election or a war.”
She asserted, “I can go to any court. I will not leave here until I get bail.”
Last year in August, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Zartaj Gul was booked on ‘corruption’ charges.
The Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) team conducted a raid at Zartaj Guls’ residence to arrest her but she was not at home.
The Punjab ACE claims that she has been summoned several times in corruption cases but the PTI leader did not appear before the anti-corruption court.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI leader is accused of giving contracts for various developmental projects to her ‘front men’ at a lower rate by taking ‘bribes’.
Zartaj Gul and her husband Humayun Akhund used to take a ten percent commission for providing funds for development schemes in her constituency, the notice claimed.
The couple is also accused of revising the development schemes that cost heavy losses to the national kitty, the Punjab ACE said.
